Graduated from Cole High School in San Antonio, where his stepfather was stationed at Fort Sam Houston after being transferred from a base in Wildflecken, West Germany. At school, he towered over classmates at 6 feet 10 and weighed 250 pounds. Although not considered a premier center at the time, he helped his team to a 32-1 record during his junior year and scored 52 points in a tournament game in Lubbock, Texas, the next year, capping a 36-0 season by winning the Texas state title.

1989-92

Attended Louisiana State University, where in his first season he averaged 13.9 points, 12 rebounds and blocked 115 shots, a Southeastern Conference record. During the 1990-91 season, Shaq became a household name as his athleticism began soaring to new heights: leading the NCAA in rebounds (15.2 a game) and was sixth-leading scorer, averaging 28.5 points a game. In an effort to make O'Neal a premier center, coach Dale Brown called upon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton to help his center perfect a sky hook and work on his shot blocking.

1991

Received the Adolph Rupp Trophy and John Wooden Award after being named college basketball Player of the Year.

O'Neal also prided himself on his schoolwork. He carried a 3.0 GPA, the best on the team.

1992

Selected as the first-round pick of the Orlando Magic. In addition to his basketball contract, O'Neal signed a deal with Pepsi that called for him to be paid $13 million. Other lucrative contracts would follow.

1993

Named Rookie of the Year after finishing the season as one of the league's top scorers, averaging 23.4 points a game, eighth in the league. He was the first rookie since Michael Jordan voted onto the All-Star team.

Wrote a book called Shaq Attack with Jack McCallum.

Slipped off his Reeboks and took his act on the road, where he tried his hand as a rap artist. He released Shaq Diesel, the first of four albums. It went platinum.

1994

Undertook an acting role in the film Blue Chips starring Nick Nolte, who played a coach forced to bend the rules in order to keep his team competitive.

1996

Signed a seven-year, $120 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Tinseltown's investment paid off: In 2000, the Lakers captured their first championship in 12 years, when Shaq came away with MVP honors in the Finals.